Apparatus for straightening flat or other goods before ironing.



R. GARDNER.

APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING FLAT OR OTHER GOODS BEFORE IRONING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23, 1011.

1,064,069, Patented June 10,1913.

IVITNESSES: INVEN'IUR.

A 'ITORNE Y.

ROBERT GARDNER, OI" TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING FLAT OR OTHER GOODS BEFORE IRONING.

.1 ,oceoco.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 10, 1913.

Application filed June 23, 1911. Serial No. 634,866.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, Itonmrr GARDNER, of the city of Toronto, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in A paratus for Straightening Flat or other -oods Before Ironing, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to devise means for use in laundries for straightening out flat or other goods. ready for ironing that they may be fed to the ironing machines in a perfectly flat condition with straight edges.

I attain my object by a construction which may be briefly described as follows: An in clined curved table is supported on a suitable frame and a reciprocal clamp is pro vided at its upper end which may be caused to hold the edges of flat 'or other goods which may be superimposed on the table and straightened out one by one'as clamped down -'by the operator. The clamp is preferably foot operated and is arranger one piece up to a number sullicient to form a I indicate corresponding to clamp from pile several inches thick, substantially as hereinafterdescribedand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure'l is a front view of the machine. Fig. 21's a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail of the yielding connect ion between the clam bar and the-bar from which it is supported.

In the drawings, like letters of reference parts in the dill'erent figures: I I i A represents the frame of a machine suitably shaped to support the different parts. This frame supp'ortsthe table B. This table it will be seen slopes downwardly from the back toward the front and is also preferably convexly curved. The drawings clearly show the table curving sharply downwardly and forwardly from the rear portion at which the tangent to the curve is substantially hori zontal. This form of table enables the goods to be flattened out more satisfactori y than they can be on a flat table.

At the rear edge of the table is supported a clamping device which is preferabl arranged as follows:On the brackets L, are journaled the rock-arms D which at their forward ends are connected by the bar E.

On this bar Eis hung the clamp bar F preferably in the following manner z-l3earmgs and straightened much G are journalcd on the bar and through these hearings extend the stems H which are formed on or secured to the clamp bar F. Nuts 1 are screwed on the ends of the stems to hold them in place. Between the bearings G and the clamp bar are placed the coil springs I. This arrangement gives the clamp bar a yielding connection with the bar E, so that. when the rock arms are actuated to force down the clamp bar the latter has a yielding engagcmentwith the table or the goods being straightened thereon. As the clamp bar swings freely on the barE it will always properly engage the goods. The bar is preferably provided with a facing K of cork or other suitable frictional material.

It is preferable to have the clamp operable by the foot of the operator. For this purpose I connect the rear ends of the rock arms D by means of the bar L. A connecting rod M is pivoted on this bar and is also pivotally connected with the cross bar N at the reaiend of the treadle O fulcrumed at the bottom of theframe of the machine. The treadle is double and the forward ends of its parts are connected by the rod P. On this rod are journaled the lugs Q extending downwardly from the rocking foot piece R. ()n the frame of the machine are secured the racks S preferably ratchet-shaped with which the forward edge of the foot piece R- may be caused to engage for the pur ose of holding the clamp bar in contact w th the goods. The racks are of sullicient len th to enable the clamp bar to be locked in a 0 am ing position on a pile of goods of any thic ness within thdlimits of the apparatus.

The operation of the device is substantially as follows: The upper edge of a piece of flat or other goods is straightened out and flattened, and clamped in place. The piece 'is then pulled out straight and flat the peculiar shape of the table enabling this to be perfectly aocon'iplished. The clamp is then lifted and a second piece placed'on top of the first and held and straightened in the same way. A pile several inches thick may thus be straightened out and then removed to be fed to the ironing. machines. The clau'ips are so propm'tioned that normally the clamping bar tends to assume the raised position. The operator therefore has merely to draw down the clamping bar as each piece of goods is placed in position on the table.

i It will be found that a machine con wa-rdly from the rear portion suitable sup-' ports for the table; a substantially vertically movable clamp adapted to cooperate with the rear portion of the upper surface of the table to engage and clamp one edge of each piece of goods; and means extending to a position adjacent tl1e front of the table for operating said clamp.

/ 2. In a device for straightening wash goods the combination of a table; suitable supports therefor; a vertically movable .clamp adapted to cooperate with the upper surface of the table to engage and clamp One edge of each piece of goods; rocking means from which said clamp is support ed; a treadle pivoted beneath the table with its toot engageable end adjacent the front of the table; a connecting rod operatively connecting said trcadle with said rocking means; means for locking the treadle in any one of a series of predetermined positions; and spring accommodation means between the locking point and the clamping point.

3. In a device for straightening wash goods the combination ot a table; a clamp bar adapted to cooperate with the upper surface of the table a pair of rock arms; a bar connecting said arms from which the clamp bar is pivotally hung; a treadle pivoted beneath the table; and a connecting rod operativcly connecting said treadlc with said rock arms. U

41,111 a device for straightening wash goods the combiinition of: a table; a clamp bar; a pair of rock arms; a bar connecting said aims; hearings on said. bar; yieldingconnections between said bearings and the clamp bar; a treadle pivoted beneath the table; and a connecting rod opcratively connecting said trcadle with said rock arms.

5. In a device for straightcning wash goods the combination of a table; suitable supports therefor; a vertically movable clamp adapted to cooperate with the upper surface of the table to engage and clamp one edge of each piece of goods; rocking means from which said clamp is swinging ly supported; a treadle pivoted beneath the table with its foot cngageablc end adjacent. the front of the table; and a connecting-rod 0perativcly connecting said treadle with said rocking means.

(3. In a device for straightening wash goods the combination ofa table; suitable supports therefor; a vertically movable clamp adapted to cooperate With the upper surface of the table to engage and clamp one edge ol each piece of'goods; rocking means from which said clamp is swingingly and resiliently supported; a treadle pivoted beneatlt the table with its foot engageable end adjacent the front of the table; and a. connecting rod opcrativcly 1 connecting said trcadle with said rockingmeans.

'ioronto this 21st day of June, 1911.

ROBERT GARDNE t. gncd n the presence'of J. Eow. Mavnnn, J

D. S. TovnLL.

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